Cultivating tool and apparatus incorporating same

Abstract

A cultivating tool for breaking up and spreading plant material over and into the ground has opposed ends and upper, lower and intermediate portions extending longitudinally between the ends. The lower portion includes a cutting edge. The intermediate portion includes a forward outer surface extending concavely upwardly and forwardly from the lower portion to the upper portion and a rearward outer surface extending concavely upwardly and rearwardly from the lower portion to the upper portion. Cultivating apparatus includes the tool coupled to the end of a support arm. The arm may be an articulated arm and the coupling may be a pivotal coupling.

1. A cultivating tool comprising opposed ends and upper, lower and intermediate portions extending longitudinally between said ends,
 (a) said lower portion comprising a cutting edge extending between said ends; 
 (b) said intermediate portion extending between said upper and lower portions, said intermediate portion comprising:
 (i) a forward outer surface extending between said ends and concavely upwardly and forwardly from said lower portion to said upper portion; and, 
 (ii) a rearward outer surface extending between said ends and concavely upwardly and rearwardly from said lower portion to said upper portion, 
 
 said lower portion of said tool and said forward and rearward outer surfaces having a substantial breadth between said ends sized for grading a ground surface and for spreading broken up plant debris on said surface. 
 
   
   
     2. A cultivating tool as described in  claim 1 , further including means for coupling said tool to a support arm. 
   
   
     3. A cultivating tool as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said lower portion of said tool is releasably attachable to said intermediate portion of said tool. 
   
   
     4. A cultivating tool as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said lower portion of said tool is releasably attachable to said intermediate portion of said tool. 
   
   
     5. Cultivating apparatus comprising:
 (a) a support arm; and, 
 (b) a cultivating tool releasably couplable to said support arm, said tool comprising opposed ends and upper, lower and intermediate portions extending longitudinally between said ends, said lower portion comprising a cutting edge extending between said ends, said intermediate portion extending between said upper and lower portions, said intermediate portion comprising:
 (i) a forward outer surface extending between said ends and concavely upwardly and forwardly from said lower portion to said upper portion; and 
 (ii) a rearward outer surface extending between said ends and concavely upwardly and rearwardly from said lower portion to said upper portion, 
 
 said lower portion of said tool and said forward and rearward outer surfaces having a substantial breadth between said ends sized for grading a ground surface and for spreading broken up plant debris on said surface. 
 
   
   
     6. Cultivating apparatus as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said lower portion of said tool is releasably attachable to said intermediate portion of said tool. 
   
   
     7. Cultivating apparatus comprising:
 (a) a vehicle; 
 (b) a boom pivotally mounted to said vehicle and extending outwardly therefrom for pivotal movement about a first axis; 
 (c) a stick extending
 (i) from a proximal end pivotally connected to an outward end of said boom for pivotal movement about a second axis extending substantially parallel to said first axis 
 (ii) to a distal end of said stick; 
 
 (d) a cultivating tool coupled to said distal end of said stick, said tool comprising opposed ends and upper, lower and intermediate portions extending longitudinally between said ends, said lower portion comprising a cutting edge extending between said ends, said intermediate portion extending between said upper and lower portions, said intermediate portion comprising:
 (i) a forward outer surface extending between said ends and concavely upwardly and forwardly from said lower portion to said upper portion; and, 
 (ii) a rearward outer surface extending between said ends and concavely upwardly and rearwardly from said lower portion to said upper portion, said lower portion of said tool and said forward and rearward outer surfaces having a substantial breadth between said ends sized for grading a ground surface and for spreading broken up plant debris on said surface. 
 
 
   
   
     8. Cultivating apparatus as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said lower portion of said tool is releasably attachable to said intermediate portion of said tool. 
   
   
     9. Cultivating apparatus as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said tool extends from said stick substantially in line with said stick. 
   
   
     10. Cultivating apparatus as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said lower portion of said tool is releasably attachable to said intermediate portion of said tool. 
   
   
     11. Cultivating apparatus as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said tool is pivotally coupled to said distal end of said stick for pivotal movement about a third axis extending substantially parallel to said first and second axes, said cutting edge extending substantially parallel to said first, second and third axes. 
   
   
     12. Cultivating apparatus as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said lower portion of said tool is releasably attachable to said intermediate portion of said tool. 
   
   
     13. Cultivating apparatus as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said tool is pivotal about said third axis to a position where said tool extends from said stick substantially in line with said stick. 
   
   
     14. Cultivating apparatus as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said lower portion of said tool is releasably attachable to said intermediate portion of said tool.